Extended LCA model for the evaluation of PV Systems

Extended LCA model for the evaluation of PV Systems Markus Schwarz Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz IEA-PVPS-Task 12 10 th of March 2015

2 Energy Institute at the JKU Multidisciplinary knowledge of more than one scientific field in energy research (economics, law, technologies, sociology) Combination of these core disciplines allows comprehensive analyses and accounts for all aspects of futureoriented energy topics

3 Background and Motivation Growth of installed capacity of PV (and Wind): Source: Own illustration based on REN21, 2014. Source: Own illustration based on Biermayr, 2014; IG Windkraft, 2014. Increasing importance of PV (and Wind)

4 Background and Motivation Shift from a central organized power supply to an enhanced decentralized generation on the basis of intermittent renewable energy sources (RES) Competition between renewable power generation technologies (PV, wind and hydro power) Penetration of PV : Changing power mix Emissions Conventional power capacities Reserve capacities Grid expansion NEEDS: Dynamic and systemic approach Intelligent system solutions ( Smart Grids ) Backup systems (central power plants and/or storage)

5 Characteristics of PV Fluctuating generation PV: solar irradiation [W/m 2 ] Aspects of energy systems: Availability share of time a power unit is in operation Maintenance Technical characteristics Reliability the probability of an inoperable system due to an unscheduled event Source: Own illustration based on BoroumandJazi, 2012.

6 Impact of PV 1. Additional operating reserve* Fluctuation requires controllable power units (gas-fired power plants, pumped-storage hydropower plant) Marheineke 2002, Tryfonidou 2006 ( Backup ) De Jonghe/Belmans/D haeseleer 2011 ( Reserves ) 2. Additional storage capacities* Moreover, fluctuating generation requires storage facilities (battery, pumped-storage hydropower plant) McKenna et al. 2013, Toledo/Filho/Diniz 2010 ( Storage, Battery ) PV: 0,5 2,0 kwh/kwp 3. Replacing conventional power plants Capacity factor: ratio of the actual energy produced in a given period, to ist maximum output. PV: 0 5 % * so-called Backup

7 Impact of PV 4. Grid expansion Decentralized generation requires grid expansion PV: 15 100 m cable /kwp 5. Intelligent system solutions (Smart Grids) Smart Grid solutions (active and reactive power control scenarios) can compensate grid expansion and are able to integrate additional decentralized power generation PV: + 15 70 % PV 1. 4. result of a higher PV penetration 5. enabler for a higher penetration of PV so far focus on single aspects incomplete approach

8 Conventional LCA studies PV Example: Global Warming Potential in g CO 2 e/kwh el Range Reference 51 55 Krewit et al. 1997 217 360 23 g/kwh for Backup Marheineke et al. 2000 200 301 23 g/kwh for Backup Marheineke 2002 64 74 Briem et al. 2010 59 73 Dones/Heck/Hirschberg 2004 51 60 25 30 104 104 Pehnt 2006 Wind Alsema/de Wild-Scholten/Fthenakis 2006; Alsema/de Wild-Scholten/ter Horst 2006 Alsema/de Wild-Scholten/Fthenakis 2006; Alsema/de Wild-Scholten/ter Horst 2006 Range Reference 33 64 19-22 g/kwh for Backup Marheineke et al. 2000 15 15 Briem et al. 2010 9 11 Viebahn et al. 2007 26 26 11 g/kwh for Backup; 0.1 g/kwh for grid Tryfonidou 2006 17 22 Hartmann 2001 7 7 Krewit et al. 1997 Source: Own illustration based on a meta-analysis. 34 68 19-23 g/kwh for Backup Marheineke 2002 9 11 Pehnt 2006

9 Backup systems Marheineke, 2002 Extended life cycle inventory and impact assessment Life cycle inventory Life cycle impact assessment PV: + 6-20% PV: + 1-11% Wind: + 25-135% Wind: + 3-92% Source: Own illustration based on Marheineke, 2002.

10 Extended LCA of PV Systems System boundary: Energy flow Source: Own illustration.

11 Extended LCA of PV Systems System boundary: Information flow System boundary Solar irradiation Reference systems PV System Transport & installation PV system Production PV module Backup System Operating reserve Storage PV System Gas-fired power plant Pumped-storage hydropower plant Operation River power plant Intelligent system solutions (Smart Grids) Transport = power grid Power mix AT Removal Source: Own illustration. Electrical energy / consumer Life cycle PV System Solar irradiation [W/m 2 ] Communication (ICT)

12 Extended LCA of PV Systems System boundary: Energy flow + Information flow Source: Own illustration.

13 Extended LCA of PV Systems The evaluation model: to quantify the impact of PV on the power system 1. Development of the evaluation model 2. Creating characteristic factors (kwh storage /kwh PV ) 3. Weighting characteristic factors 4. Integration in the LCA

14 Extended LCA of PV Systems Data base: Data on PV and components of the power system (power plants, storage, etc.) according Ecoinvent and GaBi Useful processes from LCA databases (abstract): Database # DS ID Name (en) Unit Location Category SubCategory POWER MIC Mix ecoinvent 653 666 electricity, production mix AT kwh AT electricity production mix ecoinvent 566 579 electricity, high voltage, production AT, at grid kwh AT electricity production mix ecoinvent 595 608 electricity, low voltage, production AT, at grid kwh AT electricity production mix ecoinvent 624 637 electricity, medium voltage, production AT, at grid kwh AT electricity production mix ecoinvent 682 695 electricity mix kwh AT electricity supply mix ecoinvent 713 726 electricity, high voltage, at grid kwh AT electricity supply mix ecoinvent 737 750 electricity, low voltage, at grid kwh AT electricity supply mix ecoinvent 764 777 electricity, medium voltage, at grid kwh AT electricity supply mix gabi Electricity grid mix; AC, technology mix; consumption mix, at consumer; <1kV (en) kwh AT gabi Electricity grid mix (indirect); AC, technology mix; consumption mix, at consumer; <1kV (en) kwh AT gabi Electricity grid mix 1kV-60kV; AC, technology mix; consumption mix, at consumer; 1kV - 60kV (en) kwh AT gabi Electricity mix (energy carriers, generic); AC, technology mix; production mix, at power plant; <1kV (en) kwh AT GAS-FIRED POWER ecoinvent 1353 1384 electricity, natural gas, at power plant kwh DE natural gas power plants ecoinvent 1345 1376 electricity, natural gas, at power plant kwh UCTE natural gas power plants gabi Electricity from natural gas; AC, mix of direct and CHP, technology mix regarding firing and flue gas cleaning; production mix, atkwh AT PUMPED-STORAGE HYDROPOWER ecoinvent 929 954 electricity, hydropower, at pumped storage power plant kwh AT hydro power power plants ecoinvent 938 963 electricity, hydropower, at pumped storage power plant kwh DE hydro power power plants PV ecoinvent 1653 1759 electricity, production mix photovoltaic, at plant kwh CH photovoltaic power plants ecoinvent 1649 1754 electricity, PV, at 3kWp slanted-roof, single-si, laminated, integrated kwh CH photovoltaic power plants ecoinvent 1650 1755 electricity, PV, at 3kWp slanted-roof, single-si, panel, mounted kwh CH photovoltaic power plants ecoinvent 2966 6882 electricity, production mix photovoltaic, at plant kwh DE photovoltaic power plants ecoinvent 1673 1783 photovoltaic cell factory unit DE photovoltaic production of components ecoinvent 2951 6866 photovoltaic laminate, CIS, at plant m2 DE photovoltaic production of components ecoinvent 2950 6865 photovoltaic panel, CdTe, at plant m2 DE photovoltaic production of components ecoinvent 2955 6870 photovoltaic panel, CIS, at plant m2 DE photovoltaic production of components gabi Electricity from photovoltaic; AC, technology mix of CIS, CdTE, mono crystalline and multi crystalline; production mix, at produc kwh AT gabi Electricity from photovoltaic; AC, technology mix of CIS, CdTE, mono crystalline and multi crystalline; production mix, at produc kwh DE gabi Electricity from photovoltaic; AC, technology mix of CIS, CdTE, mono crystalline and multi crystalline; production mix, at produc kwh EU-27 gabi Electricity from photovoltaic; AC, technology mix of CIS, CdTE, mono crystalline and multi crystalline; production mix, at produc kwh GLO gabi Electricity from photovoltaic (indirect); AC, technology mix of CIS, CdTE, mono crystalline and multi crystalline; production mix, akwh DE

15 Extended LCA of PV Systems Data base: Data on intelligent system solutions (Smart Grids) according research project SG-ESSENCES and literature Data on storage systems (storage-battery) according research project SORGLOS and literature

16 Research project SG-ESSENCES Investigation of enhanced PV integration in 2 regions Network structure 1 Network structure 2 33 Households 16 Households + 132 MWh 2 Industrial units 237 MWh Source: Own illustration.

17 Research project SG-ESSENCES Emission reduction in t CO 2 e/a Network structure 1 Network structure 2 [t CO 2 e/a] 50 40 30 20 10 0 [t CO 2 e/a] 0 10 20 30 40 50 BAU (PV=0) BAU + PV Doubling existing network Grid expansion Consistent cable 150 mm 2 Specific reinforcement Grid expansion Emission reduction Intelligent system solutions Q of U Q of U all Q of P Q of U +funct. of grid topo P of U P of U all Adaptable transformer Intelligent system solutions Q of U + P of U Adapt. transformer + Q of U + P of U Grid expansion: + 50 and 105 % PV (lit.: 25-175; Ø 83) Intelligent system solutions: + 47 and 64 % PV (lit.: 25-155; Ø 71)

18 Preliminary results Systemic approach can help to broaden the LCA perspective Extended LCA considers several characteristics of the overall energy system Significant impact of backup systems on the LCA of PV Model allows the analysis of differences between power technologies Conventional grid expansion: high energy and emission specific costs Intelligent system solutions: low energy and emission specific costs Extrapolation for AT: high PV potential within the existing power grid

19 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz Markus Schwarz schwarz@energieinstitut-linz.at +43 70 2468 5664